The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 50: what you’re looking at

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CO THE MYSTEBIES OF THE CovRT, a Somers, “ is to get a earpenter to put your house | measures to bring Francis inte the neighbourhood. to rights again, and secure that trap-door: for if you or your wife happen te walk in your sleep, it will be rather an unpleasant business.” . thus the woman took her depar. tare from the boosing-ken, the landlord of which returned to his wife in the bar, to take the first opportunity of giving her an aceoust of all that had occurred. CHAPTER XCVL. THE ENAMOURED SQUIRE. Wz must now return to Saxondale Castle. Three weeks had elapsed since the accident with Mr. Hawkshaw’s spirited steed which had happened to Lord Harold Staunton. He had remained confined to his roem for several days, at the termination of which he announced himeelf as being perfectly re- stored to health and strength ; and though he had since frequently complained of pains in the back and limbs, yet it was sufficiently evident that no serious were to be apprebended. He continued to reside at the Castle, notwithstanding his aunt and sister had taken their departure; and it began to be whispered amongst the domestics that he was to marry Lady Saxondale. It was known that the contemplated alliance between Lord Baxondale and Lady Fiorina Staunton had been suddenly broken off, and that Edmund had accom- panied his guardian Lord Petersfield on the special mission with which that nobleman was charged to the Imperial Court ef Vienna. Meanwhile Squire Hawkshaw had continued ua- remitting in his attentions to Juliana Farefield,— not only unremitting, bat, if possible, doubling them. He was completely infatuated with that avowal: but he had sueceeded in impression thas it would not be OF proper to manifest precipitation in a case. The month however had now drawn toa closes. It was im the middle of July when the Denisone’ ball took place: it was now the middle of d Mr. Hawkshaw hailed with delight the termination of the interval winch he had imposed upon himeelf as @ period of preliminary wooing. But did Jahana ever think of Francis Paton? Yes: she was constantly devouring him, as it were, with all the imtense fervour of her sensuous mature. The image of that deautiful youth was always uppermost in hee mind; and when alone she doing so, under the bificat: of furnished « cloak for her proceedings. of her with Mr. Hawkshaw should have cable after the nuptial coremony, to adopt some | i A ton sh - — ——— eu Cae —— Might ahe not manage to introduce him as a page into Hawkshaw Hall, when she should become the mistrees of that establishment? or might she not secrete him at eome humble but respectable dwell- log in the neighbourhood, so that she might seo him frequently and under circumstances of proper precaution? She did not entertain the slightest feeling of affuction fur Mr. Hawkshaw: she only received his addresses and purposed to accept him as a husband to suit her own selfish views. She wanted an established position — she wanted to seperate from a mother whom she regarded with mistrust, aversion, and every feeling that was dif- ferent from respect and veneration—-she wanted also the means and opportunity of indulging her eentious passion for young Paton. But did she therefore love Frank in reality? The feeling she experienced for him she regarded as love—but it would be desecrating that pure and hallowed senti- ment to affirm that it wasa true and genuine love which fanned those devouring fires in the heart of Juliana Farefield. It was a fervid passion—but not a real love: it wasa feeling of the sense, and net a seatiment: it fed upon the gross aliment of bot deaire, and not upon the sweet manna of chaste and hallowed reflections. Had she really loved him in the true of the term, she would have flown in the face of the world to become his wife, even winle he was the humble and obscure page— ahe would have set at defiance all the convention- aliens of sucicty in order to ensure her own bap- piness and prove her devoted affection for its object. Therefore it was not a genuine sentiment which Juliana experisnced towards Francis Paton—but a passion. consisting only of a gross sensuality. The time having now come, as wo have above stated, for Mr. Hawkshaw to makea formal offer of his hand to Juliana, he resolved to avail himself of the first opportunity. This was easily found: for Julians was enabled to be as much alone with him and as often as she thought fit. Lady Saxundale interfered not with ber: while she on the other band interfered not with her mother and Lord Harold Staunton. It was a gorgeous morning in the middlo of August,—the sun pouring its flood of unclouded effulgence upon the old castle, the river, and the surrounding scenery,—when Mr. Hawkshaw con- dueted Juliana forth at about eleven o'clock to walk in the garden. She had thrown on a simple straw bonnet, with a light scarf over her shoulders; and she looked most enchantingly handsome. With all the natural keenness of her penetration, she had at once discovered by Mr. Hawkshaw’s manner that the wished-for moment was now at hand. The flush of @niicipated suceese and triumph was upon her cheeks, mantling richly through the delicate olive of her complexion ; and the light of joy danced in her magnificent dark eyes, brighter than if it were the sun's beams that were reflecting there. Her hair for the morning-toiulet was in massive bands; and though she and her admirer sought tho revolved a thousand echemes for the gra 'ahadiest avenue in the garden, yet, was the entiro passion after the ceremony atmosphere so permeated with the gorgeous sun- | light, that the luxuriant masses of that raven hair She de- ; shone with the richest gloss. There was a dewy Convenient and practi- | moisture too upon her lips, which made them look redder than any one of the blushing roses which (COL (C DOO CS (COL